Iroquois China, China Replacement, Tableware

Iroquois China, Replacement China, Tableware made in the USA.

The Iroquois China Company.

The Iroquois China Company was founded in 1905 in Solvay, New York, located on the western border of Syracuse near the southern shores of Onondaga Lake. During the early years of china production, Iroquois China Company focused on commercial ware. Some of their famous customers were the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, the Blackstone in Chicago and the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. The company also furnished china to all the Pullman dining cars and many other large railroad and steamship lines. It was also in use by the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy and various branches of the government including all the china required by the government for the Panama Canal Zone construction project. The company made only commercial china until 1946 when their first dinnerware lines were introduced. (continued beneath table)

The dinnerware was made out of vitreous china, similar to their commercial ware, but in very modern shapes. During 1949, the Crane China Company was established in Puerto Rico.
The company back stamped its dishes Iroquois China. After some problems, the Sterling China Company bought the company and changed the name to Caribe China Company and later back stamped their product Caribe China, Puerto Rico, USA.

Beginning in the late 1940s, Iroquois developed a keen appreciation for organic materials and simple lines with freeform and abstract shapes. "A brand new mix-and-match philosophy replaced the prevailing practice of setting a table with identical place settings of formal china.

Industrial engineer, Russel Wright (1904–1976) created a line of ware for Iroquois China
Company called Casual that was considered "Mid-Century Modern" in style and had a Round coupe shape. It was produced between 1947 and 1967 in an assortment of solid colors.

A contemporary design called Carrara with pattern Carrara Modern was produced during the years 1954 to 1957. There was some debate whether Wright actually designed the Interplay or Carrara line.

Most dinnerware from the 1950s was designed by Seibel, Wright and Zeisel. Wright was best known for designing American Modern for Steubenville Pottery which is considered the top selling dinnerware line of all time. He was one of the first designers to target the mass market and his trademarked signature was the first to be identified with "lifestyle-marketed products", a new concept in china sales.

Wright, known as a "domestic" efficiency expert, designed his dinnerware for four companies: Iroquois China Company, Harker China Company, Steubenville Pottery and Justin Therod and Sons. He also produced pottery under his own label, American Way. In addition to famous china, Wright also designed furniture, textiles, tabletop accessories and barware.

During the 1950s, Iroquois introduced a line called Informal by industrial designer Ben Seibel that had a round shape with "a stretched look."

Designer Michael Lax added the Dining line to the Iroquois collection in glossy white. The Iroquois Primaries line was also designed by Lax and was introduced in 1968.

One of the most famous sets manufactured by Iroquois China Company was a vintage Peter Max design with a "mod" floral pattern which not only included dinnerware, but pieces such as collectible ashtrays.

Despite the company's move to contemporary, ulitarian, modern styles during the 1950s, Iroquois China Company continued to produce Victorian style floral favorites such as Chardon Rose and Morning Glory known as the Pfaltzgraff designs.

During 1970, Iroquois China Company took a bold step and partnered with local grocers like P & C to offer a line called Joshua Crabtree, Esq. which was marketed as "Commemorative China by Iroquois from the Dansico Collection.